Basketball training aid

ABSTRACT

A basketball training device is adapted to be detachably mounted on a rim of a standard basketball goal to improve a player&#39;s ability to make successful shots into the goal. The device comprises an arcuate, free-standing vertical wall protruding from an arcuate, semi-cylindrical base that is adapted to fit over the rim. The device is secured in place on the rim by hooks and straps located at each end of the base. The hooks extend under the rim to prevent horizontal movement and straps wrap around the rim and the base and are secured by hook and loop material to prevent vertical movement. Once the device is secured on the rim, the vertical wall extends above the horizontal plane of the rim to deflect basketball shots having an undesirable trajectory.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a basketball training device, and more particularly to a basketball training device which can be detachably mounted on a standard basketball goal to improve a player's ability to make successful shots into the goal.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In the sport of basketball, it is generally desirable to shoot a basketball with a high arch to ensure it enters the goal. Basketball players spend a great deal of time aiming and shooting the basketball towards the goal in order to master the skills necessary for achieving the ideal arch. However, while repetitive practice is a key factor in improving shooting performance, basketball players may also rely on training devices to improve their skills.

[0005] In the past, devices designed to assist basketball players with their training have done little to improve a player's form. Basketball training devices have primarily served to return the ball to the player after trial shots. While these devices enable the player to spend more time shooting the ball and less time retrieving the ball, they do not improve a player's shooting trajectory. In addition, most basketball training devices require substantial effort for their installation and dismantling. This is a significant disadvantage for players who immediately transition from shooting practice to playing a real game on the same basketball court.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,206,915, issued Jun. 10, 1980 to C. Woodcock, discloses a basketball practice device which can be mounted on a basketball goal. The device comprises a ring attached to a plurality of radially extending legs projecting horizontally from the goal, and a free-standing element mounted upon each leg for deflecting basketball shots having an undesirable trajectory. Installation of the device can be cumbersome as each leg must be individually clamped to the ring and the rim of the goal by means of brackets.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,764, issued Nov. 17, 1981 to W. Burke, discloses a basketball training aid comprising a basketball receiving hoop surrounded by a laterally extending, downwardly inclined shield terminating in a peripheral ring just outside of the rim of a standard basketball goal through which the ball passes to score points. This device eliminates the capability of the players to “dunk” the ball through the hoop.

[0008] Most basketball practice devices are designed to return the ball to the player. U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,680, issued Nov. 24, 1992 to N. Cass, discloses a basketball practice device designed to return the ball to the player after completing a basket, thus enabling the player to spend less time retrieving the ball. U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,543, issued Mar. 26, 1974 to J. Steele, discloses a ball deflector that is designed so that as a ball passes through the net of the goal, the deflector intercepts the path of the ball as the ball passes out of the bottom of the net. Canadian Patent No. 2,138,864, issued Feb. 5, 1995 to Frank Adamek, discloses a device for returning a basketball to the player at a desired location on a basketball court. International Patent No. WO 97/02869, published Jan. 30, 1997, discloses a device which returns the basketball to the player no matter where he is in the court. U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,052, issued Nov. 22, 1988 to K. Zinger, discloses a basketball return for deflecting a basketball which has passed through a basketball hoop.

[0009] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a basketball training aid solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The basketball training aid according to the present invention is a semi-circular shaped device, having the same or about the same radius of curvature as the rim of a standard basketball goal. The device, which can be detachably mounted to the rim of a standard basketball goal, comprises an arcuate free-standing vertical wall which protrudes from an arcuate semi-cylindrical base. The device serves to deflect basketball shots having an undesirable trajectory. The base has a groove or opening which fits over the rim of the hoop and allows the device to be detachably mounted thereon. The device is secured in place on the rim by C-shaped hooks and hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®) fastener straps located at each end of the base. The hooks extend under the rim to prevent horizontal movement and/or provide stops between the loops to which the net is attached. The hook and loop straps wrap around the rim and the base to prevent the device from falling off the rim.

[0011] Once the device is secured on the rim, the vertical wall extends above the horizontal plane of the rim to deflect basketball shots having an undesirable trajectory. Players are thereby induced to shoot the ball with a higher arch.

[0012] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a basketball training device which aids basketball players in acquiring proper shooting techniques.

[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a basketball training device which will deflect basketball shots having an undesirable trajectory.

[0014] It is a further object of the invention to provide a basketball training device which can be easily attached and detached to a basketball hoop.

[0015] Still another object of the invention is to provide a basketball training device which can be used as a sighting aid by the player shooting the ball.

[0016] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0017] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is an environmental front perspective view of a basketball training device according to the present invention, that is mounted on the rim of a standard basketball goal.

[0019]FIG. 2 is an environmental side perspective view of a basketball training device according to the present invention, that is mounted on the rim of a standard basketball goal.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a rear view of a basketball training device according to the present invention.

[0021] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a preferred embodiment of the basketball training device according to the present invention, generally designated as 5, is adapted to be mounted on a conventional basketball goal having a standard rim 15 and backboard 10. As depicted in FIG. 2, the front 20 of the device 5 faces the position from which the player shoots the ball and the back 30 of the device 5 faces the backboard 10.

[0023] As depicted in FIG. 1, the present invention is a semi-circular shaped basketball training device 5, having the same radius of curvature as a standard basketball rim 15. The device 5 can be detachably mounted on the rim 15 and comprises an arcuate, free-standing vertical wall 25 protruding from an arcuate semi-cylindrical base 26 having opposing ends 27 and 28.

[0024] As depicted in FIG. 2, the base 26 has a hollow interior or groove 45 for receiving the rim 15. The base 26 also has a C-shaped hook 40 and strap 35 at each of its opposing ends 27 and 28 to prevent movement of the device 5 on the rim 15.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the hooks 40 at the opposing ends 27 and 28 of the base 26 protrude beneath the rim 15 adjacent the loops to which the net is attached, lodging against or abutting the loops in order to prevent rotation of the base 26 laterally on the rim 15. A first end 55 of strap 35 is attached to a first slot 42 on the front 20 of the base 26 and a second end 50 of the strap 35 is inserted through a second slot 43 at the back 30 of the base 26. The second end 50 of the strap 35 has a first patch of hook and loop fastening material 39 attached to one side of the strap 35, and a second patch of mating hook and loop fastening material 41 attached to the opposite side of the strap 35, so that second end 50 of the strap 35 is wrapped around the base 26 and the rim 15 and secured to itself, thereby securing the base 26 to the rim 15. Straps 35 may be made from nylon webbing or other suitable material with hook and loop patches 39 and 41 attached thereto.

[0026] The vertical wall 25, protrudes from the center of the base 26. Preferably, the vertical wall 25 has a height of about 3.75 inches and extends about 13 inches circumferentially, while the base 26 has a height of about 1.25 inches and extends about 18.25 inches circumferentially.

[0027] When placed upon the rim 15, the vertical wall 25 extends above the horizontal plane of the rim 15. Straps 35 wrap around the base 26 and the rim 15 at each of the opposing ends 27 and 28. The hooks 40 extend from underneath each opposing end 27 and 28 and protrude under the rim 15, abutting against the net-holding loops which depend from the rim 15.

[0028] The base 26 and vertical wall 25 are preferably made in one piece from a thermoplastic material that is capable of withstanding the impact of basketballs which are thrown against it. Preferably, the device 5 is made from polypropylene, polyurethane, polyethylene, or other impact resistant material, most preferably polypropylene.

[0029] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A basketball training device for attachment to a rim of a standard basketball goal, comprising: (a) an arcuate, semi-cylindrical base defining a convex surface and a concave surface forming a groove; (b) an arcuate, free-standing vertical wall extending from the convex surface of said semi-cylindrical base, said semi-cylindrical base and said vertical wall describing a circular arc, the groove defined by said semi-cylindrical base being adapted for closely conforming to the top front of a rim of a basketball goal; and (c) means for attaching said semi-cylindrical base to the rim of the basketball goal.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for attaching comprises a pair of straps attached to opposite ends of said semi-cylindrical base.
 3. The device of claim 2, further comprising mating patches of hook and loop fastening material attached to opposite surfaces of each said strap, each said strap having a first end attached to said circular base and an opposite end adapted for being wrapped around said semi-cylindrical base and the rim and secured by said mating patches of fastening material.
 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for preventing lateral rotation of said semi-cylindrical base about the rim of the basketball goal.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said means for preventing lateral rotation comprises two C-shaped hooks, each extending below said base, said hooks being spaced apart at opposite ends of said semi-cylindrical base and being adapted for abutting net-holding loops depending from the rim.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said semi-cylindrical base and said vertical wall are formed in one piece from a thermoplastic material.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein said thermoplastic material is polypropylene.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein said thermoplastic material is polyurethane.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein said vertical wall extends about 3.75 inches in height and about 13 inches circumferentially.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said base extends about 1.25 inches in height and about 18.25 inches circumferentially.
 11. A basketball training device for attachment to a rim of a standard basketball goal, comprising: (a) an arcuate, semi-cylindrical base defining a convex surface and a concave surface forming a groove; (b) an arcuate, free-standing vertical wall extending from the convex surface of said semi-cylindrical base, said semi-cylindrical base and said vertical wall describing a circular arc, the groove defined by said semi-cylindrical base being adapted for closely conforming to the top front of a rim of a basketball goal; and (c) means for preventing lateral rotation of said semi-cylindrical base about the rim of the basketball goal.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein said means for preventing lateral rotation comprises two C-shaped hooks, each extending below said base, said hooks being spaced apart at opposite ends of said semi-cylindrical base and being adapted for abutting net-holding loops depending from the rim.
 13. The device of claim 11, further comprising means for attaching said semi-cylindrical base to the rim of the basketball goal.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein said means for attaching comprises a pair of straps attached to opposite ends of said semi-cylindrical base.
 15. The device of claim 14, further comprising mating patches of hook and loop fastening material attached to opposite surfaces of each said strap, each said strap having a first end attached to said circular base and an opposite end adapted for being wrapped around said semi-cylindrical base and the rim and secured by said mating patches of fastening material.
 16. The device of claim 11, wherein said semi-cylindrical base and said vertical wall are formed in one piece from a thermoplastic material.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein said thermoplastic material is polypropylene.
 18. The device of claim 16, wherein said thermoplastic material is polyurethane.
 19. The device of claim 11, wherein said vertical wall extends about 3.75 inches in height and about 13 inches circumferentially.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein said base has a height of about 1.25 inches and extends about 18.25 inches circumferentially. 